Combined presser-foot and work-guide for sewing-machines



1; A. FLANAGAN. V COMBINED PRESSEH FOOT AND WORK GUIDE FOR SEWING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 4, I920. RENEWED JUNE 1, 921.

1 ,387, 142, Patented Aug. 9, 1921.

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OF TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA.

Specification ofI.etters Patent; Patented Aug. 9, 1921.

Application filed February 4,1920, Serial No. 356,203. Renewed June 1, 1921. Serial No. 474,301.

To all wh'omitmay concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES ALEXANDER 'FLANAGAN, of the cit of Toronto, in the county of York and l 'rovince of Ontario, Dominion of Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combined Presser-Feet and WorkGuides for Sewing.

Machines; and I hereby declare the following is a full,'clear, and exact description of same.

The object of this invention is to combine with the presser foot of a sewing machine, a laterally and vertically adjustable work guidewhich will determine the position and direction of the stitching with regard to the edgeof the work or to the pattern to be fol lowed, the lateral adjustment enabling the work guide to be employed for a multiplicity of purposes such as e'dge stitching, seaming,

.raised seaming, quilting and other like uses,

and the vertical adjustment permitting of its use on or in connection with materials of different thicknesses without affecting the action of the presser foot on the work, this object being attained as hereinafter described.

In the drawings: 4

Figure l, is a perspective view of the work guide combined with a presser foot,

Fig. 2, is a perspective view of the presser foot shown in Fig. 1, with the work guide omitted, 5 v

Fig. 3, is a detail view of the work guide,

Fig. 4:, is a vertical section through the presserfoot and vertical member, and

Fig. 5, is a vertical section through the horizontal arm of the work guide.

Like characters of reference refer to like parts throughout the specification and drawings.

The presser foot a is formed or provided with a vertical arm or member I) terminating at its upper end in a tubular socket c to receive the lifter bar d to which it is secured, preferably by a set screw 6.

In the arm or member I) is a recess f transverse to the feed of the work having a direction len hwise of the presser foot. In the presser cot-at the base of the recessed face of the arm or member 6 is a groove 9, the

length of which is parallel with that of the this arm or member is a clamping piece 2',

clamping screw 7' which binds the clamping piece tightly against the arm or member I) and against the horizontal arm of the Work guide hereinafter described, the clamping screw having a shoulder jbearing against the back of the arm 6 to limit the movement of the screw through the clearance hole I).

The work guide comprises a guide foot is, which may be a complemental part of the presser foot a, a vertical arm or member Z extending upwardly from the heel of the guide foot; and a horizontal arm or member m extending laterally from the'vertical arm or member Z, this horizontal arm or member m,- during the use of the work guide being entered through the slot f and having graduations mthereon'which indicate the degree of adjustment of the guide foot to or from the presser foot. For clamping and adjusting purposes this horizontal arm or membzer mis thicker than the depth of the slot f, to project slightly beyond the recessed face of the arm or member I), and engage the clamping piece 71, and is less in width than the height of the slot, f for the vertical adjustment of the' arm m therein.

In one of the vertical walls of the slot, and lengthwise of it are a plurality of horizontal grooves 0, one above the other, and on the corresponding face of the horizontal arm or member m is a lengthwise rib p, to

= enter any selected groove 0.

For the adjustment of the work guide the clamping screw is loosened, to release the pressure of the clamping piece from the horizontal arm or member wt, which may then freely move laterallyand vertically in the slot. v.

For the vertical adjustment of the work guide the'horizon'tal arm or member m is positioned to enter the rib p in any selected groove 0, and for the lateral adjustment of the work guide the horizontal arm or member m is moved lengthwise throughthe slot f. The clamping screw is then .Itightened and binding against the horizontal arm or member m securely holds or locks the work guide in its laterally and vertically adjusted position, these adjustments bringing the guide foot into the desired relation with the presser foot and work.

The horizontal arm or member m is of a sufficient length to provide for a relatively wide range of lateral adjustment of the work guide, the limit of the lateral adjustment in one direction being the contact of the guide foot with the presser foot of which it may then be a complemental part and the limit of the lateral adjustment in the opposite direction being the length of the horizontal arm, the graduations of which indicate the distance of the guide foot from the presser foot. The limits of the vertical adjustment of the work guide are the top and bottom of the slot f. The lateral adjustment of the guide foot from the presser foot determines the relative distance of the stitching from the edge of the work or from the other row or rows of stitching and the vertical adjustment provides for the use of the work guide on or in connection with materials of difierent thicknesses without disturbing the original pressure of the presser foot on the material.

Depending from the sole of the guide foot is a guide rib or element 9 to engage the edge oi the work, or to ride on the material and engage and follow the pattern, or the row or rows of previous stitching.

To bring this guide rib 9 into, and maintain it in, correct relation with the work it is only necessary to accurately adjust the guide foot laterally and vertically to the material, the lateral adjustment determining the distance of the stitching from the edge of the work or adjacent row or rows of stitching, and the vertical. adjustment providing a contact of the guide foot and guide rib, with the material which will not afi'ect the action of the presser foot on the material.

Having thus fully described my invening formed in the wall of said recessto receive the rib and maintain the vertical adj ustment ofthe work guide.

2. A work guide comprising a guide foot, having a horizontal arm provided with a lengthwise rib, in combination with a presser toot, a vertical member for the presser foot having a recess formed with horizontal grooves transverse to the feed of the work for the horizontal and vertical adjustment of the work guide, and clamping means opposed to the recess to engage the horizontal member and maintain the adjustment. 1

A work guide comprising a guide foot, having a horizontal member provided with a lengthwise rib, in combination with a presser toot, a vertical member for the presser foot having a recess formed with horizontal grooves transverse to the feed of the work for the horizontal and vertical adjustment of the work guide, and clamping means opposed to the recess to engage the horizontal member and maintain the adjustment, said clamping means comprising a plate opposed to the recess having its upper end abutting against a shoulder on the vertical member and its lower end entered in a groove in the presser foot, and v a clamping screw for binding the plate against the horizontal member.

Toronto, September 29th, 1919.

JAMES ALEXANDER FLANAGAN.

Signed in the presence of- CnAs. H. Rionns, W. J. GILCHRIST. 

